The Lake Station community is mourning the tragic death of 18‑year‑old Rodrigo “Rico” Montes, whose body was recovered several days after a crash that left a pickup truck submerged in Deep River. Montes had been missing since early Monday morning, when authorities discovered the overturned vehicle near the intersection of 27th Avenue and Wyoming Street in Lake Station, Indiana. The discovery prompted an extensive multi‑day search involving local police, firefighters, and conservation officers.
According to investigators, the submerged truck was located just before 4:30 a.m. on Monday, following reports of a vehicle in the river. Family members told reporters that Montes had been at a cookout the night before and was expected home by 11 p.m., but he never arrived. Police initially believed a male occupant had escaped the crash, but Montes could not be located, leading to growing concern and a coordinated search effort across the area.
Search teams used drones, sonar, an ROV, and multiple dive units to comb the river throughout the week. On Thursday morning, at approximately 11:20 a.m., the Indiana Department of Natural Resources Dive Team located Montes’ body in Deep River, roughly 50 feet from where the submerged truck had been recovered earlier in the week. The Lake Station Fire Department confirmed the recovery and notified the family shortly afterward.
Authorities stated that Montes was believed to have been a passenger in the truck at the time of the crash. NBC Chicago reported that investigators were working to determine how the vehicle left the roadway and entered the river, and whether impairment or speed played any role. A suspect connected to the incident was taken into custody, though officials have not yet released further details regarding charges or the circumstances leading up to the crash.
Family members described Montes as a kind, caring young man and a River Forest High School senior with a promising future. Loved ones said he had contacted them before leaving the gathering Sunday night and believed he was getting a ride home from a friend. When he failed to return, relatives contacted police and began calling hospitals in hopes of finding him. The days‑long search and eventual confirmation of his death have left the community devastated.
As the investigation continues, authorities are working to reconstruct the events leading up to the crash and determine the full circumstances surrounding Montes’ death. The recovery site along Deep River has become a somber gathering point for friends, classmates, and family members who have left flowers and messages in his memory. Police have stated that additional information regarding the suspect and the cause of the crash will be released as the case progresses.
